By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and Kenneth Jones
04 May 2013

Paul Nolan

Des McAnuff's new Stratford Festival staging of the rock musical Tommy, which he helped create for its Broadway life, features Robert Markus as the gifted title character, Paul Nolan as Cousin Kevin and Jeremy Kushnier as Capt. Walker. Performances begin May 4 in Ontario.

McAnuff won a 1993 Tony Award for his direction of the kaleidoscopic tale of a post-World War II generation, inspired by the concept album by The Who. McAnuff is the former artistic director of the Stratford Festival. The production will open May 30 and run through Oct. 19 at Stratford's Avon Theatre.

Tommy has music and lyrics by Pete Townshend, book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, additional music and lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon.

Here's how Stratford bills Tommy: "Deprived of sight, hearing and speech by the shock of what he has witnessed as a child, young Tommy Walker seems lost to life — until he reveals an uncanny talent for the game of pinball. When his faculties are suddenly restored, Tommy is hailed as a living miracle — but will the fans who turn to him for enlightenment want to hear what he has to say?"

Wayne Cilento, who won the Tony for Choreography for Tommy, reunites with McAnuff. Rick Fox is the music director. The Broadway production's original set designer (John Arnone) and costume designer (David C. Woolard) are also working on the new Canadian revival. Some might speculate that the production is being created with an eye on a future commercial production. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Broadway debut.

Nolan, Kushnier, Siegel, Leis, Reynolds, Alfano and Sermonia are alumni of McAnuff's recent production of Jesus Christ Superstar, seen at Stratford in 2011 and later at La Jolla Playhouse and on Broadway in 2012 (where it was Tony Award-nominated as Best Revival, along with Josh Young as Featured Actor in a Musical).